Graduating athletes and getting them posted on the world track and field list has been assistant coach Clint Whitaker's primary passion ever since he entered into the coaching profession.

Whitaker is in his seventh year at UMES where the track and field and cross country programs have had a 100 percent graduation rate during his tenure.

Prior to UMES, Whitaker spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. He left a strong legacy at Oklahoma State, coaching a number of NCAA regional qualifiers, six NCAA All-Americans, five school record holders and a national champion. Whitaker also graduated all of the athletes he coached and signed while at OSU.

Prior to his arrival in Stillwater, Whitaker built his reputation as a horizontal jump specialist at the high school level. One of his many accomplishments includes his athletes sweeping the long jump and triple jump during the 1997 & 1998 indoor and outdoor seasons. His resume boasts 25 state medalists and four All-Americans at the high school level from 1994-96.

Whitaker was also the adjunct head track and field coach at the Colorado School of Mines. He coached six conference champions and four NCAA All-Americans in 1993 and 1994. During his tenure, the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams qualified for NCAA Championships each year he was there.

In 1990, Whitaker was at the University of Maryland. While in College Park, he coached a three-time NCAA All-American, and several NCAA qualifiers. Whitaker also mentored the 1991 NCAA All-American 4x800-meter relay team. Whitaker coached at the University of Colorado from 1984-90. While there, he coached eight NCAA All-Americans, seven Big 8 Champions and several athletes who were registered on the world list. He also coached and graduated 90 percent of the athletes he was responsible for.

A long jumper at the University of Missouri, Whitaker earned a bachelor's degree in Education in 1979. He and his wife Kim have five children, Zach, Samantha, Ashley, Brooke and Abby.